On the motorway, when it says London 20miles, where is this measured from, in London???

Question

Just wondering when we were stuck on the M25 for 3 hours...

Answer 1

The questioner refers to distance on road signs and according to the BBC, "the actual point for measuring the distance to and from London is located at Charing Cross, Westminster"
I

Answer 2

Historically, measurements from London were taken from Charing Cross.

Charing Cross is actually at the southern edge of Trafalgar Square, near the modern junction of Northumberland Avenue and Whitehall. I think that there is a statue of Charles I at this locus. I seem to recall that there is a commeration stone somewhere nearby noting that road measurements were taken from there.

I think the reason for choosing this point was that Charing Cross was at the northern edge of the former Palace of Whitehall, which was the London home of the monarch and, therefore, the seat of government. It therefore made sense to measure distances throughout the kingdom from its seat (ie centre).

Answer 3

I always used think it was Marble Arch but it is actually Charing Cross. Charing cross is regarded as the centre of London and so all distance to and from London are measured from Charing Cross.

Answer 4

Definitely Charing Cross (Marble Arch is actually on the outskirts on the city centre)

Answer 5

Yours is a very good question. In london the distance is taken from the central london. You might enjoy this resource..http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_London
Generally a city's road distance would be measured from its border line. If you are exactly on the border line that separates two cities, then the distance between the cities should be zero since every land with in the border is the city itself. But i might be wrong...

Answer 6

All mileages to towns and cities are calculated to the town or city centre.

Answer 7

It's Marble Arch, which is at the end of Oxford Street.

Answer 8

it is to the outskirts hun